NCAA: Perpetual gets 5th straight win, grounds Mapua

Altas head coach Jimwell Gican. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Perpetual rolled to its fifth straight win, taking down Mapua, 71-51, to take a temporary hold of the second seed in the NCAA Season 92 Men’s Basketball Tournament Thursday at San Juan Arena.

Gab Dagangon sizzled for the Altas with 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Perpetual to a 7-2 record to end their first round campaign while the Cardinals dropped to 5-3.

“We were so happy sa pinakitang performance nung team namin ngayon, so ayun, nagbunga paghihirap namin tiyaka sakripisyo namin sa everyday practices,” said Altas head coach Jimwell Gican.

Their 7-2 record, however, is not a ground for celebration for Gican and the Altas as the second round is an all too different landscape.

“Wala kaming luxury mag celebrate kasi it’s the first round, and matinding labanan ‘to sa second round.”

Mapua shot a paltry 30 percent shooting from the field while Perpetual shot a better 42 percent clip.

Bright Akhuetie got the better of reigning MVP Allwell Oraeme in their matchup holding down the Cardinal big man to six points and 13 rebounds.

Oraeme has been tearing it up for the Cardinals averaging 17.67 points in six games before meeting Akhuetie and the Altas.

Akhuetie, for his part, had 11 points 12 boards.